Closures for containers



March 25, 1969 B. w. MOLLER 3,434,614

CLOSURE-S FOR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 6, 1967 BYN UM W. MOLILER UnitedStates Patent 3,434,614 CLOSURES FOR CONTAINERS Bynum W. Moller,Victoria, Tex., assignor to Moller Enterprises, Inc., Victoria, Tex., acorporation of Texas Filed Oct. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 674,071 Int. Cl. B65d41/22, 55/02; A61j 1/00 US. Cl. 215-41 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis disclosure pertains to closures for containers of the type used inthe home to store medicines or poisons in a liquid, tablet or powderform. The closures are especially adapted to preclude children fromremoving the same from a container to obviate the possibility of a childtaking the medicine or poison without the aid of an adult.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a cap type closurearranged to fit over the mouth of a container. The cap closure and thecontainer neck are provided with opposite facing abutments means whichprevent the cap from being inadvertently removed. The cap is made of arelatively flexible material and shaped so there is no outward shoulderunder which force can be applied to remove the cap. In order to removethe closure from the container, the top portion of the closure isdepressed and this force operates to separate the cap skirt from thecontainer wall a sufficient distance to allow an individual to insert afinger under the closure to pry the closure oil of the container.

It is to be remembered that the closure of this invention is designed tobe quite difficult, if not impossible, to remove unless the individualproceeds in a predetermined manner. The closure is further constructedand arranged such that a child is physically incapable of removing theclosure even if the predetermined procedure is followed although removalthereof presents no difiiculty to an adult. Accordingly, the closure ofthe invention substantially reduces the possibility of accidental injuryto a child because of inadvertent consumption of the contents of acontainer with which the closure is associated.

Because of the nature of medicine or poison containers used in the home,it is necessary that th closure be reusable since a sizable quantity ofmaterial is normally kept in the receptacle to which the closure isattached. It should be understood that the closure of the invention isnot limited to use with medicine or poison containers, but may be usedwith any type of container and particularly with any type of containerstoring material which may be detrimental to children when taken inlarge quantities.

Another problem met by the closure of the invention not fulfilled bymany prior art disclosures is cost. Since the device of this inventionmay be made by a relatively simple injection molding process,manufacturing costs are minimized.

Summary 0 the invention Several features of the device cooperate toprovide a closure that is incapable of being removed by a child. Thefirst feature constitutes a substantially horizontal shoulder orabutment on the closure for matching a corresponding shoulder on thecontainer neck. The second feature is an externally smooth and inwardlytapered periphery free from sharp angles such that an upward forceapplied to the edge of the closure tends to tighten rather than toseparate the closure and the container. he third feature is a lowerskirt which tapers to a thin line juxtaposed to the container neck andthus allows 3',434,6 l4 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 no opening into which afinger nail or such may be wedged to pry the cap off the container. Thefourth feature is a bodily flexible top portion which is shaped so thatwhen depressed it separates the skirt from the container neck asufiicient distance to allow the insertion of the individuals fingerbeneath the closure in order to pry or peel the closure from thecontainer neck.

It is an object of this invention to provide a closure for containerwhich is incapable of being removed by a child in order to prevent thechild from obtaining access to the material in the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive closure ofthe type described which is susceptible of mass production.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure forcontainers which is removed by depressing the top portion, inserting afinger between a lower lip of the closure and th container and thenprying or peeling the closure off the container.

Other objects, advantages and important features of this invention willbe apparent from a study of the specification following, taken with thedrawing, which together describe, disclose, illustrate and showpreferred embodiments of this invention and what is now considered andbelieved to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Stillother embodiments, modifications, procedures or equivalents may beapparent to those having the benefit of the teachings herein and suchother embodiments, modifications, procedures or equivalents are intendedto be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and breadth ofthe subjoined claims.

Brief description 0 the drawing FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of acontainer equipped with a closure made in accordance with the principlesof this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the showing ofFIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 22 thereof as viewed in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating the manner in whichthe closure is removed from the container;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the closure of thisinvention attached to a container;

FIGURE 5 is an enlanged partial vertical cross-sectional view of thedevice of FIGURE 4 taken substantially along line 55 thereof as viewedin the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a showing similar to FIGURE 5 illustrating the manner inwhich the closure is removed from the container.

Description of the preferred embodiments Attention is now directed tothe embodiment a t FIG- URES 1-3 wherein there is shown a container 10Colinprised of a neck portion 12 and a storage portion 14 of anysuitable configuration. The neck portion 12 is provided with aperipheral downwardly facing ledrge or shoulder 16. It is to be notedthat the ledge or shoulder '16 is planar by which is meant that thoseportions of the ledge or shoulder 16 on opposite sides of the container10 lie in a common plane. Extending upwardly from the outermost portionof the ledge 16 is a frusto-conical camming surface 18 leading towardthe mouth 20' of the container 10.

Secured about the periphery of the container L10 and preventing accessto the interior thereof from the exterior is a closure 22 made inaccordance with the principles of this invention. The closure 22comprises a bodily flexible top portion 24 and a relatively inflexibleedge portion 26. The top portion 24 is illustrated as generally circularto conform to the circular nature of the container neck 12 although itshould be understood that other configurations are suitable. The topportion 24 comprises a diaphragm 28 that normally assumes an upwardlyconvex configuration as shown best in FIGURES l and 2. The diaphragm 28is preferably sufficiently flexible to assume a generally upwardlyconcave configuration when the center thereof is depressed as shown bestin FIGURE 3. The diaphragm 28 is preferably less flexible at theperiphery than at the center thereof which is accomplished in thedisclosed embodiment by making the diaphragm 28 thinner at the centerthan at the periphery.

The edge portion 26 of the closure 22 extends downwardly along thecontainer and around the neck 12 thereof. The edge portion 26 and lip 36are nontearable at any particular location about the periphery 30thereof and is preferably smooth to present a structure having agenerally equal strengths at locations spaced about the periphery 30.The edge portion 26 is formed with an internal peripheral recess 32configured to receive the frusto-conical camming surface 18 of thecontainer neck 12. The edge portion 26 is also formed with a lip 34defining an upwardly facing shoulder or abutment 36 disposed inface-to-face abutting relation with the ledge 16 of the container 10. I

As shown best in FIGURES 1 and 2, the external surfaces of the periphery30 and the lip 34 are smooth and free from sharp or abrupt angles whichmight possibly be used to obtain a purchase for the removal of theclosure 22. For a similar purpose, the lip lower peripheral edge 39 isthin and is juxtaposed to the container 10 to prevent an individual fromprying the lip 34 away from the container 10. It will accordingly beseen that the smooth exterior of the edge portion 26 and the taperingnature of the lip 34 cooperate to prevent an individual from removingthe closure 22 in other than the manner hereinafter described.

In order to remove the closure 22 from the container 10 the individualmust press on the diaphragm 28 adjacent the center thereof so that thediaphragm 28 assumes the generally upward concave configuration shown inFIGURE 3. The depression of the center of the diaphragm 2'8 inducesforces in the closure 22' that are transmitted through the edge portion26 to spread the lip 34 and thereby separate the lower peripheral edgeof the lip 39 from the container 10 to allow an individual to insert thefingernail between the lip 34 and the container 10. The individualthereafter lifts upwardly on the lip 34 and acts to pry or peel theabutment 36 from. engagement with the ledge 16 and thereby progressivelyremove the peripheral portions of the closure 22.

The downward Iforce needed to accomplish removal of the cap can becontrolled by varying either the thickness or the physicalcharacteristics of the cap material. In this way the age of the childwho can open the container can be predetermined.

For the best method to reattach the closure 22 to the container 10, oneperipheral portion of the lip 34 is engaged under the ledge 16 withdownward pressure being peripherally progressively applied to theperiphery 34 of the edge portion 26. That part of the lip 34 which isnot yet engaged under the ledge 16 is cammed outwardly by thefrusto-conical camrning surface 18 until the abutment 36 underlies theledge 16 about the entire periphery of the container neck.

Attention is now directed to the embodiment of FIG- URES 4-6 whereinthere is shown closure 122 made in accordance with the principles of theinvention. Since the closure 122 is identical to the closure 22 exceptfor the presence of an additional element, the basic construction of theclosure 122 will not be described. Instead, reference characters similarto those describing the closure 22 are used to indicate identicalfeatures.

The closure 122 differs from the closure 22 in the provision of means138 for concentrating the effect of depressing the top portion .124 on alimited area of the lip 134. The concentrating means 138 comprises a ribextending from adjacent the center of the diaphragm 128 in a radialdirection across the top portion 124. The rib 140 extends around theedge portion 126 and tenminates at or below the lowermost end of the lip139 as shown best in FIGURE 5.

The external surface of the rib 140 adjacent and below the edge portion126 is externally smooth and free from sharp or abrupt angles to preventan individual from obtaining a purchase thereon. Since the purpose ofthe rib 140 is to concentrate the effect of the depression of thediaphragm 128 on a limited area of the lip 134 in order to facilitatethe separation of the lower end of the lip 139 from the container 10,the rib 140 covers less than two quadrants of the top portion 124 andpreferably is rather thin as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

When it is desired to remove the closure 122 from the container 10, theindividual depresses the center of the diaphragm 128 as shown in FIGURE6. When the center of the diaphragm 128 is depressed, the rib 140 actsto concentrate the movement of the diaphragm 128 into that segment ofthe lip 134 contiguous with the rib 140. This is best illustrated inFIGURE 6 where that portion of the lip 134 contiguous with the rib 140is moved a substantial distance from the container neck 12 whereas theremaining portion of the lip 134 remains adjacent the ledge 16. Anotheradvantage of the rib 140 lies in the fact that it may extend downwardlybeyond the lower lip edge 139. For this reason, the lower end of the rib140 moves away from the container 10 a sufficient distance to allow thetip of a finger to be inserted thereunder whereupon the closure 122 maybe pried or peeled off of the container 10 more easily than if just thefinger nail is used.

While the invention has been described and disclosed in terms of anembodiment which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the inventionshould not be deemed to be limited by the precise embodiments hereinshown, illustrated, described and disclosed. and it is to :be understoodthat such other embodiments are intended to be reserved, especially asthey fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

a container neck having an opening therethrough, an outwardly extendinggenerally downwardly facing ledge therearound, and a frusto-conicalsurface extending from adjacent the periphery of the ledge to adjacentthe opening;

a one-piece closure for the container neck comprising:

a bodily flexible top portion defining an upwardly recessed surface inan unstressed condition and an upwardly generally concave surface in astressed condition, the top portion being substantially free ofmacroscopic voids;

a downwardly extending edge portion contiguous with the top portion anddefining an externally smooth nontearable periphery and an externallysmooth nontearable lip extending downwardly along the container neck,the lip defining a generally upwardly facing abutment in face-to-facerelationship with the ledge, the lip further defining a thin edge belowthe abutment in engagement with the container neck when the top portionis in the unstressed condition;

the top portion, the edge portion, and the lip being so constructed andarranged that when the top portion is depressed into the stressedcondition, the forces produced thereby are transmitted through the edgeportion to the lip to separate the lower edge of the lip from thecontainer neck.

2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising:

rib means integral with the top portion and extending from adjacent thecenter thereof, the rib extending around the edge portion andterminating adjacent the lower edge of the lip, the rib means occupyingless than two quadrants of the top portion.

3. In combination:

a container neck having an opening therethrough and an outwardlyextending generally downwardly facing ledge therearound;

a reusable closure for the container neck comprising:

a bodily flexible top portion covering the opening of the neck, the topportion substantially free from macroscopic voids;

a downwardly extending edge portion contiguous with the top portion anddefining a nontearable periphery and a nontearable lip extendingdownwardly along the container neck, the lip defining a generallyupwardly facing abutment in faceto-face relationship with the ledge;

the top portion, the edge portion and the lip being so constructed andarranged that when the top portion is depressed, the forces producedthereby are transmitted through the edge portion to the lip portion toseparate the thin lower edge of the lip from the container neck.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein:

the lip further defines a thin edge below the abutment, the thin edgebeing juxtaposed to the container neck unless the top portion isdepressed.

5. The combination of claim 3 further comprising:

means for concentarting the effect of depressing the top portion on alimited area of the lip, the concentrating means comprising rib meansextending from adjacent the center of the top portion to the terminus ofthe lip, the rib means defining less than two quadrants of the topportion.

6. In combination:

a container neck having an opening therethrough and an outwardlyextending generally downwardly facing ledge therearound;

a reusable closure for the container neck comprising:

a bodily flexible top portion covering the opening of the neck; and

a peripheral downwardly extending edge portion defining a lipsurrounding the ledge on the container neck, the lip refining agenerally upward- 1y facing abutment face-to-face relationship with theledge;

the top portion and the lip being so constructed and arranged that whenthe top portion is depressed the lower end of the lip is spread toseparate the thin lower edge of the lip from the container neck. 7. Thecombination of claim 6 wherein: the lip further defines a thin edgebelow the abutment, the thin edge being juxtaposed to the containerneck; and the edge portion presents an externally smooth pe riphery freefrom sharp angles. 8. The combination of claim 6 wherein: the topportion is thicker at the periphery than at the center thereof. 9. Areusable closure for use with the container of the type having a neckand peripheral downwardly facing ledge therearound, the closurecomprising:

, a bodily flexible top portion for closing the mouth of the container;and

a downwardly extending edge portion contiguous with the top portion anddefining a nonteara'ble externally smooth periphery and a nontearableexternally smooth lip for extending downwardly along the container neck,the lip defining a peripheral planar upwardly facing abutment forengaging the ledge of the container in face-to-face relation;

the top portion, the edge portion and the lip being so constructed andarranged that when the top portion is depressed, the forces producedthereby are transmitted through the edge portion to the lip forseparating the lip lower edge from the container neck; and

the externally smooth periphery and the externally smooth lip being freefrom sharp angles.

10. The reusable closure of claim 9 further comprising:

means for concentrating the effect of depressing the top portion on thelimited area of the lip, the concentrating means comprising astrengthened segment of the top portion extending from adjacent thecenter of the top to the terminus of the lip, the strengthened segmentdefining less than two quadrants of the top portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,266,270 12/1941 Roth 220-422,630,237 3/1953 Rosenlop 220--60 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,463,789 11/1966France.

GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

